Craig Nelson Ross Jr is the suspected in the abduction of Charlotte Sena, 9, who vanished as she rode her bike in a state park.
Nine-year-old schoolgirl, Charlotte Sena went missing on the evening of Saturday, September 30.
At the time of her disappearance, the girl rode her bike in a in Saratoga County, New York state park.
Per reports, she was abducted and after thorough investigation, the authorities arrested a 46-year-old man named Craig Ross Jr., 46, on October 2, 2023.
Here’s what we know about Sena’s accused kidnapper Criag Nelson Ross.
Who is Craig Nelson Ross Jr.?
Craig Ross Jr. is a 47-year-old man from Ballston Spa in Saratoga County, New York.
He gained fame after he was arrested after troopers stormed his camper – two days after Sena disappeared. He is the main suspect in Charlotte Sena’s disappearance.
The suspect was snared by cops after a ransom note was allegedly found in Charlotte’s parents’ mailbox.
Police were reportedly able to match the prints with a DWI arrest from 1999, leading them to an address where the suspect was living.
He was arraigned on first-degree kidnapping charges and held without bail, per The Times Union.
Who is Charlotte Sena?
Charlotte Sena is a 9-year-old girl who went missing on September 30, 2023, while she was on a camping trip in New York.
Sena was on a trip with her family in Moreau Lake State Park – around 35 miles from Albany – when she disappeared on Saturday.
She was out biking with friends around dinner time, and after completing one bike loop by herself, she never returned to her family campsite, officials said.
Her parents became alarmed when the fourth-grader failed to come back after 15 minutes.
The girl’s disappearance sparked a frantic search probe, leading to over 400 people becoming involved including state and local cops, forest rangers, and volunteers.
Where was Charlotte Sena found?
After tracing the suspect from a previous arrest, cops moved in on the address where Ross Jr was believed to reside.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul said the suspect was found living in a camper behind the home.
Moments later, Sena was discovered.
“The little girl was found in a cabinet, covered,” Hochul said.
“She knew that she was being rescued. She knew that she was in safe hands.”
Once Sena was found, she appeared “outwardly physically unharmed” and was taken to a hospital for an examination, according to Hochul.
Hochul branded the kidnapping “every parent’s worst nightmare” and said the incident appeared to be “very random.”
According to Hochul, her parents were immediately notified that she was found at 6.32pm EST.
Where is Craig Nelson Ross Jr. now?
Following a thorough search for Sena when she went missing and the police arresting Craig Nelson Ross Jr., the 45-year-old was subsequently brought into custody.
He was charged with Kidnapping with Intent to Collect Ransom, according to felony complaint docs obtained by WCBS-TV.